On-Farm Euthanasia of Cattle
and Calves

Table of Contents

The decision to humanely end the life of an animal may be necessary
in cases of severe injury or disease or as a result of disasters
such as fire or flood. On-farm euthanasia may be the most practical
and humane way for a livestock producer to relieve an animal's pain
and suffering if it is unfit to travel, or to prevent drug residues
from entering the food supply.

Whenever possible, livestock producers should consult with a veterinarian
before deciding to euthanize an animal. The following questions
will help in deciding whether to treat, slaughter or euthanize an
animal that is injured, extremely weak or disabled:

Is the animal in pain or distress? If yes, consider treatment.

Is the animal likely to recover? If yes, consider treatment.

Does the animal have the ability to access feed and water? If
yes, consider treatment.

Have medications been administered? If yes, check withdrawal
period.

Have drug withdrawal times been cleared? If yes, consider slaughter.

Can the animal be humanely transported? If yes, consider slaughter;
you will need a veterinary certificate to transport the animal.

Does the animal show any clinical signs that you don't recognize
or that you recognize as a reportable disease? If yes, you must
contact your veterinarian.

Methods of Euthanasia

Euthanasia must be performed in a way that minimizes fear and anxiety
in the animal. Good stockmanship practice dictates that producers
have an ethical and moral responsibility to provide a humane death
for animals in their care, without causing additional pain or suffering.

There are three basic methods appropriate for on-farm euthanasia:
overdose by barbiturate; stunning with a penetrating captive bolt,
followed by bleed-out; and gunshot. Each method has advantages and
disadvantages. Euthanasia by barbiturate overdose must be performed
by a veterinarian. Producers who choose the captive bolt pistol
or gunshot method must take precautions to prevent serious injury
to themselves and others.

To choose the most appropriate method for your operation, consider
human safety, animal welfare, required skills, costs and other factors.

Table 1 outlines the three methods and considerations for each.

Method

Human Safety

Animal Welfare

Skills Required

Cost

Other

Overdose by Barbiturate

Intravenous administration of a barbiturate

Restrain the animal

Excellent rating

Proper technique for intravenous injection

Veterinary fee

Can only be administered by licenced veterinarian. Information
your deadstock collector of the drug residue in the carcass

Penetrating Captive Bolt

Penetration of the skull and brain by captive bolt, followed
with bleed-out by cutting all the main arteries and veins in
the neck

Restrain the animal. Be cautious of falling or thrashing
animals

Good rating. Correct cartridge strength, target site and
penetration angle on animal is essential

Correct and safe use of captive bolt pistol. Correct and
safe use of sharp knife

Low - after purchase of captive bolt pistol

Results in some body movement. Results in large volume of
blood that requires proper disposal

Gunshot

Penetration of the skull and brain by bullet

Restrain the animal. Be cautious of falling or thrashing
animals. Be extremely cautious about bullet ricochet

Good rating. Correct size of firearm and ammunition, and
correct target site and penetration angle on animal is essential

Correct and safe use of firearm

Low - after purchase of firearm

Results in some body movement and blood. Requires firearm
acquisition certificate. Local by-laws may prohibit the use
of firearms

Penetrating Captive Bolt and Gunshot

An experienced person can produce rapid unconsciousness in an animal
by using a penetrating-type captive bolt or shot from a firearm
which is aimed at the correct target site and penetration angle
for the species and age of animal. The same anatomical targets and
penetration angles are used for both a penetrating captive bolt
pistol and a firearm (see Figure 1 and Figure
2).

Penetrating Captive Bolt

Ensure the animal is well restrained.

Use the appropriate cartridge strength for the animal (refer
to the manufacturer's manual).

Place the captive bolt pistol firmly against the animal's head
on the target site, and shoot.

Be careful to avoid injury from thrashing limbs when the animal
collapses.

Cut both the carotid arteries and jugular veins in the neck
with a sharp knife to bleed-out the animal after stunning. These
arteries and veins are on both sides of the throat.

Gunshot

Ensure the animal is well restrained.

Plan to shoot outdoors when possible.

Have a backstop (e.g., an earth berm, manure pile, or something
that will stop the bullet if you miss or it over-penetrates) behind
the area you are aiming at.

Use a firearm and ammunition that are appropriate for the size,
age and type of animal. The ammunition used to euthanize an animal
must be powerful enough to make the animal immediately unconscious
and to penetrate the head deeply enough to destroy the areas of
the brain that control breathing and circulation.

A shotgun using Buckshot cartridges that contain 6 pellets
weighing a total of 30 g, or a 9 mm or a .357 calibre firearm,
can be used to successfully euthanize most cattle older than
six months. A larger calibre firearm will be needed for large
bulls.

Hold the firearm 5-25 cm (2-10 in.) from the target site. To
avoid personal injury, do NOT place the firearm muzzle against
the animal's skull. Aim the shot down the line of the spine so
that the bullet will enter the brain stem (the beginning of the
spinal cord), and shoot.

Be careful to avoid injury from thrashing limbs when the animal
collapses.

Target Site and Penetration Angle

For cattle older than six months, the captive bolt or gunshot should
penetrate the skull at the intersection of lines extending from
the lower base of each side of the horn bed to the inside corner
of the opposite eye as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.
Target site and penetration angle for euthanasia of cattle older
than six months

For calves six months of age and younger, direct the shot at the
intersection of lines drawn from the top base of each ear to the
inside corner of the eye on the opposite side of the head (see Figure
2).

Figure 2. Target
site and penetration angle for euthanasia of calves six months and
younger

Confirmation of Death

It is essential that you confirm the animal's death directly following
euthanasia. A standing animal should immediately collapse. Its muscles
may involuntarily contract, usually for no longer than 20 seconds.
After this, it may show some poorly co-ordinated kicking or paddling
movements before the muscles completely relax.

Check the animal for breathing, heartbeat and blinking response
(corneal reflex). There should be none. The eyes should be fixed
and dilated. To check the blinking response, touch the surface of
the animal's eye (the cornea). Any eye movement or blinking shows
sustained or recovering brain activity. If there is any sign of
breathing, heartbeat or blinking, repeat the euthanasia method or
use an alternate procedure.

Disposal of Mortalities

The proper disposal of livestock mortalities is critical in preventing
environmental contamination and the spread of disease. In Ontario,
the Nutrient Management Act and the Food Safety and Quality Act
regulate the disposal of dead farm animals, and any parts, including
blood.

Under the Nutrient Management Act regulation, producers are required
to properly dispose of on-farm mortalities in a safe, environmentally
friendly manner within 48 hours of death. When euthanizing an animal,
it is a good idea to choose a location where you can easily reach
the mortality and to quickly dispose of it.

Acceptable means of on-farm disposal under the NMA include burial,
incineration, composting, disposal vessels, or anaerobic digestion.
Owners may also take deadstock to common bins, waste disposal sites
approved under the Environmental Protection Act, disposal facilities
licensed under the FSQA, or to a licensed veterinarian for post
mortem. The mortality may also be picked up by a collector licensed
under the FSQA. OMAFRA has produced a number of fact sheets that
explain the new requirements for each disposal method, and you may
refer to the link below for further information.

While the NMA and FSQA requirements do not require prior permitting
or licensing for cattle producers who transport their own deadstock
to a receiver, there are additional changes under the federal Specified
Risk Material regulations. As of July 12, 2007, federal regulations
require any cattle deadstock moved off-farm to be stained with a
visible stripe applied down the back of each carcass. Any raw SRM
removed from a carcass must also be dyed. Prior to moving any SRM,
including cattle deadstock, off-farm a permit must be obtained from
the CFIA. The application form is available through the. The permits
are free, issued for 90 days, and may involve an on-farm inspection
by CFIA staff.

It is anticipated that dead animal collectors will assume responsibility
for applying the stripe prior to removal of carcasses. Nonetheless,
cattle producers who normally use the services of a dead animal
collector are advised to discuss this with their service provider.

Conclusion

Human safety and animal welfare must over-ride economic considerations
when deciding if, how, when and where an animal must be humanely
destroyed.

Euthanasia, although an unpleasant task, is an inevitable component
of animal husbandry. Careful planning and training can help to minimize
a person's stress associated with carrying out this necessary act,
and prevent the unnecessary suffering of animals. Discuss euthanasia
options for your farm operation with your veterinarian, then develop
an action plan and update it annually as part of your herd health
program.

Notice and Disclaimer

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs does not recommend
any specific one of the methods described above. Producers must
determine which method is appropriate for their individual circumstances.
Possession and use of firearms are governed by federal legislation;
producers should ensure compliance with all legislative requirements
and ensure adequate safety precautions are used. OMAFRA is not liable
for injuries or damages resulting from the use of the above methods.

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